-------Original Message------- From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni@kenet.or.ke> Subject: [Kictanet] Poor Nations Are Littered With Old PC's: Lets be careful! Sent: 07 Nov '05 10:00

NB: Sorry for a very long posting

Kindly lets do our homework. Lets be careful about what we support lest we shoot ourselves in the foot. * Definitions: * Old Computers: Computers that have reached the end of their useful

in an organisation/ A computer that has reached the end of its useful life to the owner. Second-hand/ Refurbs : Old or used computer equipment that has been restored to working condition. Restoration involves repalcement of hardware components with similar or newer ones.

*Facts:*

Most of the environmental concerns with computers lie with the monitor (27% of the weight of a CRT monitor is due to its lead content), specifically its cathode ray tube (CRT). Each color monitor contains, on average, four to five pounds of lead, considered hazardous waste when disposed off. Computers also contain other hazardous materials, including mercury, cadmium (a known carcinogen), and hexavalent chromium (shown to cause high blood pressure, iron-poor blood, liver disease, and nerve and brain damage in animals).

In the US alone more than 315 million computers were expected to become obsolete by the year 2004, containing an estimated 1.2 billion

I agree with Dorcas, that we need: 1. To develop a “Made in Kenya” computer & communications equipment industry: My position is that taxes on parts should be removed while taxes on finished IT products should remain slightly higher than the parts. This would nurture a computer assembly industry at the very minimum. Alternatively, PC assembly / manufacturers should be given a better tax deal (??tax holidays for promoting employment in ICT??). 2. To develop strict environmental guidelines/laws on imported communications equipment (including reconditioned mobile phones): This should include parts that will be used for PC assembly. since PCs are dumped here because it's cheap, our government can collect [the equivalent of upto 50% of the amount the "dumpers" are running away from] and still ensure that nothing harmful is dumped here. We would remain a more attractive destinations for the harmlessl devices yet the government would make some good money in the process. ;-) 3. To enforce our laws on local and imported e-waste: How we dispose our own IT waste is very critical. We are not doing too well on old diskettes, printer catridges and damaged mobile phones. As Dorcas stated, NEMA, Prof. Wangari Mathai and CCK should have their presence felt on this issue if we are to make progress. 4. To criticaly study and support the enforcement of the ICT related aspects of the Basel Convention - www.basel.int - at the national level: Note that the ICT policy (before Cabinet) has a provision for strict laws on. As the headquarters of UNEP -and as a nation which has officially announced its interest in joining the Security Council - Kenya should lead the way. 5. Alex, I am compelled to "throw an Orange" at your appeal ;-) I remain Proudly Kenyan, Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. lives pounds of

lead, 2 million pounds of cadmium, 400,000 pounds of mercury and 1.2 million pounds of hexavalent chromium.

Imagine a worst-case scenario: Groundwater, (enough Kenyans draw drinking water directly from rivers,) near a landfill becomes contaminated.

If you can contact NEMA or our renowned Mother Nature (Prof. Wangari), let them know these and start preparing a law.

*Action:*

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